Measuring influenza vaccination of HCWs
The National Quality Forum has a time-limited (pilot) measurement of influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare personnel. It applies to various health care settings, including acute care hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health agencies, and nursing homes. It is computed with different numbers for those vaccinated, those with medical contraindications, and those declining the vaccine, as follows:
Numerator: Health care personnel in the denominator population who, during the time from when the vaccine became available through March 31:
(a) received an influenza vaccination administered at the healthcare facility or reported having received influenza vaccination elsewhere (computed separately);
(b) were determined to have a medical contraindication for receiving the vaccination (computed separately); or
(c) declined the vaccination (computed separately).
Denominator: Number of persons who are working in the healthcare facility between October 1 and March 31 who meet the CDC definition of healthcare personnel (HCP).
For each influenza season, influenza vaccination coverage among HCP should be measured at the overall facility level. Additional stratification is recommended: component facility, ward, unit, and specialty; occupational group (e.g., nurse, physician, student/trainee); and HCP who perform direct patient care (i.e., hands on, face-to-face contact with patients for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring).
The term HCP refers to all paid and unpaid persons working in healthcare settings and might include (but is not limited to) physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility, and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, and volunteers) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from HCP.
Source
National Quality Forum National Consensus Standards for Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations, 2008. http://bit.ly/fdyRv9.
The National Quality Forum has a time-limited (pilot) measurement of influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare personnel.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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